Lionsgate and Runway Team Up to Make AI‑Made Movies

Lionsgate has bought a share in the video‑AI firm Runway, not for cash but as part of a larger plan to turn its film library into short AI shows. The move follows a partnership that began last September, when the studio started using Runway’s tools for early storyboards and post‑production tweaks. Now, Lionsgate will tap characters from hits like “The Hunger Games, ” “John Wick” and “Twilight” to create new AI‑driven content. The deal also launches a joint development program. Both companies will build fresh intellectual property with generative AI, and they’ll host events aimed at filmmakers who want to learn how to use the technology. While the exact price of Lionsgate’s stake was not revealed, it is clear that the studio sees AI as a creative boost rather than just a cost‑cutting trick.Michael Burns, Lionsgate’s vice chairman, said the partnership lets filmmakers “redefine and reshape the art of the possible. ” Runway’s co‑CEO, Cristóbal Valenzuela, echoed this view, stressing that AI should help tell more stories faster. He added that the expanded collaboration will push the boundaries of what can be produced. Hollywood has been wary of AI, especially when it comes to protecting characters and respecting union rules. Lionsgate’s appointment of a chief AI officer in February shows the studio is serious about navigating those challenges. Burns has publicly claimed that AI could save the company tens of millions each year in production costs. The partnership’s value was hinted at during a New York media conference, where Burns joked about possibly buying Runway one day. The AI firm’s recent funding round valued it at $5. 3 billion, giving Lionsgate a stake in a high‑growth technology that could reshape the entertainment industry.